Thesing frowns on all the threats made to him. He harrumphs and says, The play is not over yet! Some of you still might miss the curtain call!
Delour's singing is met with tepid applause-they want to see what happens next.
The curtain rises and Thesing steps forward and addresses the audience. How can this be? Four trials broken, and still they prevail. Asmodeus smiles upon them. Does the Dark Lord truly know of my compact with the Abyss? It cannot be, or I am utterly undone. True or nay, I must try the last. I shall plunge their faith in pitch and acrid stew, and see if they hold to the cause.
He then steps back and turning to you all says, You sickly whelps profess undying devotion to one another. Another smoldering lie flung from your dark holes. You but conspire to confound this court and our Dark Majesty. ’Tis ye who contract with demon-spawn and seek my undoing, in service to some slimy mistress or master of the putrid Abyss. Your vile benefactors have thus far warded off justice’s dark hand, but let us see if you hold steadfast before the promise of oblivion.
Naberius is just barely able to shake off his shock and gather his wits before the performance. At Thesing's lines, he falls to his knees, as if in despair.
"More?" he moans. "I cannot last! My old heart gives out...."
He reaches out towards Mera, but then averts his gaze and covers his face in shame. "Go on without me, master. I served your father faithfully. Alas, I am found lacking in the face of his half-breed son. The challenges, ever dire, cleave my soul from me. May Asmodeus keep me..."
"Well met Naberius Belthrune!"
Mera had been listening but not paying attention to Naberius's conversation, more interested in tending to peopels wounds. When she hears Naberius's full name spoken aloud her head snaps to attention, staring at the speaker. Belthrune?! Knowing how important their current situation is she recognizes that now is not the most ideal situation to broach the subject with her cousin. Cousin indeed. She finishes off her healing duties and makes her way out on stage, avoiding Naberius's gaze.
"The play is not over yet! Some of you still might miss the curtain call!"
As she passed by him she mutters, "I hope you choke on the next tomato that the audience tosses down your throat."
Mera shakes her head, "No foolish talk, old wizard. Haven't you claimed immortality a thousand times to any bent ear? Old Dentris Maltrada cannot die, ye said. I've eaten the heart of an ancient Red Wyrm, and warmed by his fire, my soul burns eternal."
She looks down at Naberius, staring at him. She lets silence hang an awkward three seconds longer than necessary as she looks down at the man. Why? Finally as the silence nears the point of uncomfortable, she thrusts her hand towards him. "Get up, my dear friend, more father to me, than ever any father was. Your duties are not abated. Your task is yet undone."
"Let him die. He’s suffered long enough, and we’ve suffered his blustery speeches even more keenly. Kick off, old bag, and be done with ye." Monday says cheekily while winking at Mera.
Naberius sighs heavily as the silence drags on. He lets his gaze wander across the stage, before slowly raising his eyes to meet Mera's. His countenance is that of deep shame. There is the indignation of a proud man brought low, but also something more relatable. More human. The pained expression of someone who regrets lying to a friend, and the fear of losing trust.
Then the wizard gets back into character, his head snapping towards Monday.
"Why you shiny beetle!" he blusters. "You quivering pall-o-dine of a young whelp-turned-demigod! You plump kettle! I shall bring the all-encompassing powers of a thousand worlds crashing down upon your head! The keening song of dead gods warble at my command! I will leave your mind a tatterdemalion of a sad rag!"
Finally, the conjurer grabs Mera's hand and gets up on his feet. "Die! Die, you say! Nay, not till I have seen the last oafish breath squeezed from your lungs by tongs of fire, you simpering Aro-din-din!"
Monday gives the Diabolist a wide and toothy grin. "Looking more lively now, aren’t we?"
Mera doesn't pull her punch, she feels something near betrayal from Naberius. When the wizard connects with her gaze, she tightens her grip on his hand and bores into him as if searching for his soul. Stop it Mera, it's not fair.
She breaks the gaze and lets him finish his lines. Eventhough the next lines should start facing Naberius Belthrune, she turns to face the audience for the entire bit. Speaking loudly she says, "Peace, old man. The pall-o-dine works a righteous healing upon your old bonesapplying the only balm your withered heart desiresspitting ire and uncouth rage. Bile for balm, bile for balmwhat a wolfish old man, a terror to kings and angels."
She hops up onto a nearby bucket and with a grand sweeping gesture she proclaims, "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Dentris Maltrada. He knows no equal!"
Naberius pulls back his hand and dusts off his robes. His face is now hard as stone, and he is already slowly moving into position for the upcoming fight.
"Enough, pup!" he scoffs. "I am much abused. Lay not your hands on me, pall-o-dine! I shall rise without your young god's urgings. I have work left indeed..."
"Lay not your hands on me, pall-o-dine! I shall rise without your young god's urgings. I have work left indeed..."
That is something you would say... Monday mouths along with a roll of her eyes.
Mera turns to Ilsandra and listens intently. "Strange old wizard, loyal and dear heart. Hell join us in the marriage bed and one last night of bliss will be his for the taking!"
Mera nods her head in agreement, "A lovely sentiment, my princess of Hell, disturbing though it may be."
perform check
Tal recovers from his previous gaffe on stage and pulls out a plausible performance all things considering. His tone and inflection give Drovalid a sense of humanity in this act.
As Mera and Calseinica talk about their tryst with Naberius Tal keeps from breaking character as he ends the talk. Enough. It is time. I am not long of your company, but know that I would stand by you all through six hundred trials. Stepping between Mera and Naberius he grabs Mera's hand. Take hands with me, half-breed. My sins and yours are one. Our destinies intertwine, and I walk your path with you to the bitter burning end.
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Mera is still distracted with Belthrune, her eyes lingering on the wizard. When Tal grabs Mera's hand her focus moves over to her bodyguard. She smirks, unable to resist the words coming out of his mouth. She improvises, breaking from script slightly. "Will you now? Well. I'm honored.
Tal winces slightly at the words and look from Mera. Small enough that he audience probably couldn't see it he knows that Mera will twist this upon him somehow at a later time to her advantage. This play was a bad idea from the beginning and the sooner it was over the happier he would be.
No need to act, Thesing says, How touching. These sentiments of yours are nothing but dreamy clouds, soon to be shred by Asmodeus’s blasting winds. He says with a look at disgust at the love-fest his eye beholds.
Mera gazes into Calseinica's eyes, ignoring Thesing and entirely focusing only on her. "Face of hazy dream-like bliss, kiss like fire. I [i]burn[/]i for you, princess. Cling to me, dig your talons into my chest and touch my heart with white-hot caress."
Calsenica returs Mera's soulful gaze and softly says, I am yours for one thousand blissful years. Drink my sizzling blood from my wrist, or anywhere else you like—let us seal this sinful compact and consummate our love in the heat of battle.
The audience is so enraptured by the scene that you could hear a pin drop in the theater!
"Dentris, you old cur, dog curled by your master’s feet. I can’t call you friend, but a truer servant I’ve never known. Loyalty is the mark of greatness. Know that my sword is yours even as your spells bend to Larazod’s cause. We stand as one, and we always shall." Monday says softly as an aside to Naberius while placing a hand on his shoulder, not wanting to spoil Mera and Calsenica's moment.
Calsenica turns to Tal and seductively says, Great Tormentor, Drovalid Vorclune, let it be said a man who can bear the vicious ministrations he renders upon his foes is a great man indeed. Though I am pledged to this young half-breed, know your courage sends shudders through my loins.
I hope Lily doesn't find out about this. Tal cringes as he hears the line delivered by Calseinica to him. This could get awkward with Mera, Calseinica, Monday and her together if they decide to bring this up.
Trying to keep in character though Tal delivers his lines as his palms sweat. You do me sweet honor, great lady. I stand in awe of your passion, and these worthy nobles’ unshakable courage. Tal turns away from the embrace of Mera and Calseinica pointing at Monday. Even this milksop of a pall-o-dine stands hard against the torments of Hell—harder than the fiercest witch.
"Yes, I am very hard right now." Monday quietly coos to Tal.
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Tal's eyes go a bit wide in shock as he moves to stand equally away from Monday, Mera, and Calseinica. Hopefully the audience takes it that Tal is getting into a fighting stance as he grabshis warhammer ready to face the last trial.
At Monday's ad-lib, the audience erupts in loud guffaws and a few reddened cheeks.
Once the laughter dies down, the curtains along the back portion of the stage part to reveal a second stage beyond, decorated as a swampy, dreary hellscape. Waiting within are two troll skeletons, animated and controlled by Vestus.
One of the troll skeletons moves 30 feet and tries to bite Mera.
Luckily for Mera, he bites nothing but air.
Naberius steps back and starts intoning words of power. After a series of complicated gestures, the conjurer brings his hands together, only to quickly draw them apart in tearing motion. The stage beneath the farther skeleton's feet hungrily yawns open, leading into an extradimensional rift spouting forth a cloud of smoke and sulphur.
A pit opens up under the furthest troll skeleton and he falls into the pit. He rises from the prone position and attempts to climb out.
Vestus smiles and nods approvingly as Naberius' pit opens under the troll skeleton. He holds out his hands and skeleton does likewise leaving it in a perfect position to climb out. As the skeleton climbs out he gives Naberius a salute-mimicking Vestus's gesture from backstage.
Tal steps to the side (5ft up 1 square) to give some cover to Monday as he calls to Mera. Back away from it!
Tall then swings mightily with his warhammer hoping to crush the bones quickly to get to the other skeleton.
power attack +2 if Tuesday flanks first for
There is a crunch as metal hits bone and Tal feels it starting to crumble upon impact. Still there was a lot of bones left before this creature would be finished.
Monday backs away to guard Mera.
Tuesday moves up alongside Tal and strikes at the creature that hit Mera.
The singer watches as the jaws of the skeleton rip open her costume and spill her blood from her shoulder. Her face pales visibly as she stares incoherently at the blood stained skeleton of the creature before them. She tilts her head slightly to the side, fatigue slowing her reactions as she places her hand on her wound and pulls off a bloody hand. Raising the blood stained to her face she watches her hand start to tremble as momentary panic sets in.
What am I doing here getting mauled by manifestations of hell for Thesing's own pleasure?
Not completely focused on the situation at hand and lingering in a half aware state of pain and exhaustion she takes a few steps backards away from the creature and starts to scream loudly.
Monday moves upstage motioning Mera to come to her. Tuesday takes a five-foot step and attemps to pound the skeleton with his fists but his concern for Mera keeps his fists from connecting. Tal however slams his Warhammer into the skeleton breaking bones.
Mera retreats to where Monday is waiting and starts to sing to inspire her comrades.
The troll skeleton is unhappy that Mera retreated from his grasp so he tries to remove the obstacles. He attempts to bite and claw Tal.
Fortunately for Tal, none of the attacks bypass his armor.
Naberius frowns at the priest behind the stage, and starts rolling up his sleeves with a look of grim determination. He slashes across his left palm with a dagger, letting his blood drip and pool on to the stage. As he intones in Infernal, the droplets start congealing into shapes of wicked runes and concentric pentacles of differing sizes.
From the blood rises a familiar form, not unlike those horrid masses of infernal flesh that the group had vomited forth previously. The lemure seeps into the world like pus from a wound, writhing and moaning in mindless agony. With a sharp gesture and a barked command from its summoner, the damned soul roils towards the skeletal troll as it tries to crawl its way from the pit...
At Naberius' chanting a voice from the audience says, What's he saying? wich causes much giggling throught the theater.
Naberius' lemure tries to push the troll skeleton back in the pit, but is unable to move the skeleton. The skeleton attepts to bite the lemure as it is being pushed.
As the lemure falls, the skeleton again salutes Naberius mimicking the priest behind the curtain.
The Troll Skeleton, ignoring Larazod strides foward to Naberius. It wispers Let's see if my admiration of you is not mis-placed! as it bites him.
Tuesday tries to keep in tandem with Tal's strikes.
"Nabe!" Monday lets out before rushing to the Diabolist's side and striking out at the skeleton.
Mera's exhaustion is increasingly evident in every breath she takes. She continues her song, voicing the words to help inspire her comrades to continue on.
The show must go on.
She looks at the large creatures and then over to Naberius as creature lays into him. She follows in Monday's footsteps and halfheartedly swings her dagger at the beast without any commitment.
Realizing that they need to put the skeletons down quicker Tal drops his shield and grips the warhammer in both hands. Matching his strike with Tuesday's perfect blow he hopes it is enough to end this threat and move on to the next.
Power attack for
The resounding crunch is good enough for Tal as he is certain that not much could withstand another devastating so shortly after Tuesday's. Now if Naberius can just survive long enough to rescue him.
Monday, seeing Naberius in trouble, rushes to his side and solidly connects on the troll skeleton, but it does not do as much damage as she thought it would.
Tuesday slams a skeleton and the sound of crunching bone is heard throughout the theater.
Not a second later, Tal's warhammer solidly hits bone and sends bones scattering throughout the stage.
Mera stops singing and looks relieved that one of their adversaries has been defeated.
Naberius' eyes widen with surprise as the skeleton dispatches his summoned minion, all his previous confidence draining from his face in an instant. The conjurer staggers back in horror as the undead monstrosity charges to attack him, puncturing his magical defenses. Feeling its enormous tusks rending his flesh, he fumbles in his pouch for the next spell component. He was quickly running out of tricks...
Seeing Monday rush to his aid fills Naberius with renewed courage, allowing him to swallow his rising panic at being set upon by the living dead. The conjurer uses the distraction to back away from the enemy, quickly spouting another litany of arcane syllables. He makes a familiar sweeping motion with his hand, coating the stage under the skeleton's feet with a thin film of transparent oil.
Let us see how you like this, you abomination...
The skeleton starts to wobble but maintains his footing. One of his claws rakes Naberius but the other swipes nothing but air. The skeleton also tries to bite Monday but misses.
"Leave him alone! I smite you! Smitesmitesmite!" Monday shouts as wildly smacks at the creature after it snaps at her.